MAPUSA
In a shocking incident on Sunday afternoon, a 65-year-old bachelor, identified as Arnoldo Soares, was found dead in a pool of blood in his partitioned house at Orda-Candolim.
The deceased, a Canadian national with Person of Indian Origin (PIO) status, had been living in one part of the house for the last 10 years, while his first cousins resided in the other part of the large house.
The house features a common entryway.
The crime came to light when Soares’ relatives, concerned that he was not responding to calls, alerted the police.
Upon arrival, Calangute Police discovered injury marks on Soares’ forehead and have registered the case as a murder.
Initial investigations revealed that Soares’ cousins heard a loud noise, likely the sound of breaking glass, at around 2.30 am. When they called out to check if something was wrong, someone inside reportedly responded with “kai nam” (nothing is wrong).
Assured, the cousins returned to their part of the house and went back to sleep.
According to the police, the perpetrator likely entered the house by removing roof tiles and using a nylon rope which was hanging from the roof to slip inside.
After committing the murder, the accused fled in Soares’ Ritz car, which was later found abandoned at the Aguada helipad.
Theft is not suspected as there were no signs of disturbance or missing valuables inside the house, and Soares typically conducted cashless transactions.
Police sources described Soares as a decent but reserved person who seldom spoke much.
It was also revealed that Soares was involved in ongoing property disputes and was engaged in court cases related to these issues.
Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal stated that a forensic team was on-site to gather more details.
“It looks like murder, but we are examining all angles. A special team has been formed to identify suspects, and we are reviewing CCTV footage. We are hopeful of resolving this case,” Kaushal said.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Candolim Sarpanch Blaize Fernandes, and other panchayat members visited the crime scene.
“It’s really shocking that a senior citizen is brutally murdered. Such incidents happening in Goa is very scary,” Lobo remarked.
The case is being investigated by Calangute PI Paresh Naik and DySP Vishwesh Karpe under the overall supervision of North Goa SP.
The brutal murder of Arnoldo Soares has shocked the community, and authorities are diligently working to solve the case.
The investigation continues as police explore all potential leads and motives behind the crime.
